MURIC demands ban on movie portraying women in Niqab as criminals

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC demands ban on movie portraying women in Niqab as criminals

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned an upcoming movie featuring Nancy Isime and other actresses wearing purdah (Niqab) and brandishing weapons, describing it as “satanic” and “Islamophobic.”

The group claims the film portrays Muslim women as criminals and incites the public against them.

The statement read: “An extremely anti-Muslim film has been released into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film, which was recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks. It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. This film is satanic, repugnant, and provocative.

“It is aimed at portraying Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity. The film is capable of inciting the public against Muslim women. It may also expose Muslims in general to public ridicule and opprobrium.

“We believe that the film is the handiwork of Muslim-haters and part of the plot to stop Muslim women from wearing hijab and niqab. The plot was hatched a long time ago, and its execution began in the schools. This plot was boldly and diligently confronted in Nigerian courts by Muslims until the highest court in the land made a pronouncement on it. This Satanic film is the latest effort in the war against hijab”.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, called for the National Film and Video Censors Board to investigate and ban the movie, warning that it could spark violence and ridicule against Muslims.

“To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with video clips, voice notes, and other types of messages, we have this to say: please remain calm and peaceful. You have spoken loud and clear.

READ ALSO:

“We have received your messages and action is being taken right now. Our religion brought a message of hope and peace to the world. We will not allow anyone to paint our women, our mothers, our wives, our daughters and sisters in the colours of Shaytan. Be good ambassadors of Islam. Don’t take the law into your hands. Allow the authorities to take necessary action,” he added.

The movie poster sparked outrage among the Muslim community, with many expressing offense at the depiction of women wearing hijab and face veils in a bank robbery scene.

Some have threatened to file a complaint with Meta, seeking action against the account responsible for sharing the “Islamophobic content.”

Reacting, one Latifat Adewunmi Jumah, with a Facebook handle, Laj Fingers, expressed her dissatisfaction over the offensive posts, saying, “The niqab/hijab is not an armed robbery attire! The niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity. If you needed to conceal your identity for a perfect robbery role, you could have used a nose mask or wear a mask. Why wear Islamic attire? I find this offensive. Something needs to be done to stop these people. Niqab/Hijab is not a costume, neither is it a joke”.

Another Facebook user, who identified as Alfa Shehu, commented, “And one of our brothers from Ilorin is kuku in the movie with them. Hypocrites! It is these same people who will turn around tomorrow and say women in Niqab are doing this and doing that. Awon alarun opolo gbogbo. Anything for clouts and monetisation.”